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To learn more about exciting wrinkle treatments like Restylane®, please contact our Baltimore, Maryland area office today.
Greenspring Professional Building
10807 Falls Road
Suite 101
Lutherville, MD 21093
Phone: 866-899-9813
Fax: 410-902-9803
Fillers: Restylane® and Other Wrinkle Treatments at Our Baltimore, Maryland Area Center
Fillers are used to “fill in” lines, valleys, depressions, and hollows of the face or to add fullness to the lips, cheeks, and chin. Over time, our understanding of fillers has improved, and today there are more options than ever to choose from. After using many different types of fillers, Dr. Schuster has found that the most successful results with the least amount of risk are obtained with fat grafting and Restylane®. During your consultation at our Baltimore, Maryland area practice, Dr. Schuster can help determine which option is appropriate for you.
As with other cosmetic options, there are advantages and disadvantages to all types of treatments. You may refer to the chart below for more information about and comparisons between the most popular fillers, including Restylane®. At our Baltimore, Maryland area practice, fillers can be used alone or in combination with other surgical or non-surgical treatments, including face lift, eyelid surgery, brow lift, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, facial rejuvenation with IPL™, and more.
Restylane® and Other Filler Options
Restylane® , Perlane®, and Restylane Fine Lines® are all products made from Hyaluronic acid. They are all used as fillers for non-surgical treatment of facial lines, wrinkles, grooves and depressions. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance within the skin that helps to give skin its "plumpness." All three of these products are made by Medicis Aesthetics and use the same type of Non-Animal Hyaluronic Acid (NASHA). Because of this they do not need any type of skin testing before treatment. They differ only in how thick they are. Perlane® is the thickest and best used for deeper grooves in the nasolabial and cheek areas. Restylane® is the middle product in thickness and has the widest uses. It works extremely well for fine and medium lines in the cheeks, around the mouth, frown areas, and lip enhancement. Restylane Fine Lines® is the thinnest and is reserved for fine lines around the eyes. Only Restylane® is presently FDA approved for use in the United States.
Restylane® Treatment
Restylane® is performed in Dr. Schuster’s Baltimore, Maryland area office in a short, simple visit. A topical anesthetic cream is applied beforehand and occasionally a local anesthetic can be used for treatment of the lips. Bruising and swelling is mild to moderate and can last from one day to one week. Most patients are able to return to full activity without concern the following day, though some with more bruising prefer to take off a few days. Patients should plan to apply ice to areas treated with Restylane® after their procedure. Make-up may be worn the next day, and patients are able to return to exercise the next day. The results are seen immediately, though they will continue to soften and improve over several weeks. Restylane® lasts six to 12 months and can be repeated as often as desired.
Fat Grafting
Fat grafting is an excellent way to help restore volume in the face. As we age, we lose volume and support, most commonly in the areas below the eyes, in the mid-cheek area, and in the groove between the upper lip and cheek, called the nasolabial groove. These areas can be filled again using your own fat. The fat is taken from another area of the body, specially prepared, and transferred to the facial areas in very small droplets. The facial tissues must then “grow into” the fat. If successful, the results will be permanent. If not, the fat will gradually dissolve away over about six months. Usually at least half the fat survives, providing for long lasting improvement. Like Restylane®, fat grafting can be done safely in our Baltimore, Maryland area office and may be combined with many other procedures to enhance results.
Comparing Fillers – Advantages, Disadvantages, and More
Name |
Source |
Duration |
Advantage |
Disadvantage |
Zyplast®, Zyderm® |
Cow collagen |
2-4 months |
Easy, contains lidocaine |
Possible allergy – needs skin testing, short duration |
Cosmoplast™, Cosmoderm™ |
Human derived collagen |
4-6 months |
Easy, human-no skin testing needed |
Short duration |
Restylane®, Perlane, Restylane Fine Lines® |
Lab manufactured Hyaluronic acid |
6-12 months
|
Easy, Different thicknesses for different needs, long lasting |
Not permanent |
Hylaform® |
Rooster derived Hyaluronic acid |
6-12 months |
Easy, long lasting |
Possible allergy, Not permanent |
Artecoll® |
“plastic” microspheres surrounded by cow collagen |
Possibly permanent |
Possibly permanent |
Possible allergy – needs skin testing, If lumps occur - permanent |
Radiance™ |
“bone” particles surrounded by collagen |
Possibly permanent |
Possibly permanent |
If lumps occur – permanent |
Fat |
Human self donated |
Months - permanent |
No skin testing, Face and body |
Longer recovery, donor area discomfort |
Autologen |
Human self donated collagen (skin) |
6-18 months |
No skin testing, long lasting |
Complicated, expensive |
Isologen |
Human self donated fibroblasts |
Years |
Comes from self, long lasting |
Skin testing needed, complicated, expensive |
AlloDerm® |
Human derived sheets of dermis |
Months - years |
Human donated |
Cannot be injected |
Gore-Tex |
Synthetic Polytetrafluoroethylene |
Permanent |
Permanent |
May be lumpy or irregular – permanent |
Silicone |
Synthetic polymers of dimethylsiloxanes |
Permanent |
Permanent |
May migrate, cause permanent lumps |
For more information on filler options like fat grafting and Restylane®, please contact Baltimore, Maryland plastic surgeon Ronald Schuster, MD to schedule a consultation.
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